Actor Prithviraj to direct Mohanlal in ‘Lucifer’

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 15 (IANS) Popular Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran is all set to make his directorial debut with “Lucifer”, for which he has cast superstar Mohanlal.

“‘Lucifer’, starring The Lalettan, written by Murali Gopy, produced by Aashirvad Cinemas will be my directorial debut… COMING SOON,” Prithviraj posted on his Facebook page on Thursday.

Mohanlal confirmed the news through his official Facebook page.

He wrote: “Here I have a big news for my million splendid audience about my upcoming project. A big budget movie from Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas, which sees collaboration of two icons of Malayalam film industry behind the camera for the first time, who are also distinguished for their uniqueness.

“Prithviraj, son of my dearest Sukumarettan, doing his directorial debut and Murali Gopy, son of our Gopiettan, penning story and script … And the movie’s name is ‘Lucifer’.”

Gopi Jr had scripted this film a few years back and it was made for Rajesh Pillai, but following his unexpected demise earlier this year, it was held up. Now the project has taken a new turn.

Ever since the huge success of “Ennu Ninte Moideen”, the film that Prithviraj starred in and also produced last year, he was thinking of turning a director and was waiting for the opportune time.

According to a source in the know of things, this move came after Antony Perumbavoor, the closest aide of Mohanlal, who now produces most of Mohanlal’s films, expressed his desire to produce a film directed by Prithviraj. Things eventually fell in place.

Mohanlal’s Onam release “Oppam”, directed by his close friend Priyadarshan, has turned out to be a huge hit and so has Prithviraj-starrer “Oozham”.